The problem of "test-driving" blades

[SmallAminal]

I am curious what solutions people have to the issue of not being able to easily try out different blades. While usually you can narrow down your choices based on your level (and perhaps coach input/knowledge), how will you be able to know if you will like e.g. Gold Seal vs. Pattern 99?

In our experience, we relied on the recommendation of the coach and the occasional chance to "try" someone's old blades and my skater is very happy with any changes we've made. However, its usually hard to just try a bunch of different blades for the following reasons:

• Manufacturers typically don't make "demos" widely available to the general public (if at all). They would have to offer them in too many sizes for it to be practical. I don't know anyone that can afford to buy multiple blades "just to try".
• Even if you had the option of trying every single blade every made, your boots cannot withstand more than a few blade mountings without compromising the integrity of the boot

Has anyone thought about this problem and how to solve it? How have you trialed different blades or did you make the decision solely on the recommendation of a coach/fitter/tech?

 

[Diana Delafield]

I am curious what solutions people have to the issue of not being able to easily try out different blades. While usually you can narrow down your choices based on your level (and perhaps coach input/knowledge), how will you be able to know if you will like e.g. Gold Seal vs. Pattern 99?

In our experience, we relied on the recommendation of the coach and the occasional chance to "try" someone's old blades and my skater is very happy with any changes we've made. However, its usually hard to just try a bunch of different blades for the following reasons:

• Manufacturers typically don't make "demos" widely available to the general public (if at all). They would have to offer them in too many sizes for it to be practical. I don't know anyone that can afford to buy multiple blades "just to try".
• Even if you had the option of trying every single blade every made, your boots cannot withstand more than a few blade mountings without compromising the integrity of the boot

Has anyone thought about this problem and how to solve it? How have you trialed different blades or did you make the decision solely on the recommendation of a coach/fitter/tech?

This is a commonly discussed problem which I've fortunately never had to solve. I learned everything on MK Pros as recommended by my first coach, and never felt any need to switch. I did try Coronation Ace blades once by borrowing a friend's skates since she was my size and was using the same boots as I had. Decided they felt heavier and higher and I preferred my own. I did hear that Dr Helmut May, designer of the Wifa boot in Austria and then longtime coach in Canada, who sold his own boots (and no other makes) in his Vancouver shop, kept a large supply of sample blades of several popular brands in the most common sizes. He'd allow skaters to try out two, maybe three blades with their new boots. More would, as you say, damage the soles of the boots. That was just dressing-room legend, though. And I suppose the fact that the boots he sold were his own make cut down his costs somewhat and enabled him to keep a stock of blades for testing in addition to the ones he sold.

 

[WednesdayMarch]

Agonising over which blades to choose never used to be a thing. Back in Dark Ages when I first learned to skate (1980s) you had Coronation Ace mounted on your first pair of good boots (after the bolted together set) and a separate set of boots and blades for compulsory figures and that was that until you were consistently doing doubles. If you got that far, then you typically went with your coach's recommendation of Phantoms, Pattern 99s, Gold Seal or Gold Star. There was never really any agonising, you just got what you were told to get and got on with skating! If you specialised in ice dance, then you switched to either MK Dance or Dance 99. MK Silver Dance arrived in the late 80s and were a good intermediate dance blade, before you moved up to the thinner, faster MK Dance and got scared senseless.

It should be remembered that it's possible to skate on pretty much anything and most people don't need anything other than Coronation Ace or MK Professional. In fact, one of our British Champions was knocking out triple Axels and fantastic combination spins on Legacy 8s.

I see more adult skaters' progress halted or slowed by their acquisition of Pattern 99s or Phantoms than I see enhanced, however much they profess to love their blades. "Top level" equipment doesn't make a better skater. Correct technique and practice does that.

 

[Minz]

It should be remembered that it's possible to skate on pretty much anything

Wasn’t the first axel done on speed skates?

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Wasn’t the first axel done on speed skates?

 

[Diana Delafield]

Agonising over which blades to choose never used to be a thing. Back in Dark Ages when I first learned to skate (1980s) you had Coronation Ace mounted on your first pair of good boots (after the bolted together set) and a separate set of boots and blades for compulsory figures and that was that until you were consistently doing doubles. If you got that far, then you typically went with your coach's recommendation of Phantoms, Pattern 99s, Gold Seal or Gold Star. There was never really any agonising, you just got what you were told to get and got on with skating! If you specialised in ice dance, then you switched to either MK Dance or Dance 99. MK Silver Dance arrived in the late 80s and were a good intermediate dance blade, before you moved up to the thinner, faster MK Dance and got scared senseless.

It should be remembered that it's possible to skate on pretty much anything and most people don't need anything other than Coronation Ace or MK Professional. In fact, one of our British Champions was knocking out triple Axels and fantastic combination spins on Legacy 8s.

I see more adult skaters' progress halted or slowed by their acquisition of Pattern 99s or Phantoms than I see enhanced, however much they profess to love their blades. "Top level" equipment doesn't make a better skater. Correct technique and practice does that.

Yay, somebody else who remembers carrying two pairs of skates to the rink, one for freeskate and one for figures. What was it about figures blades that was different? They were missing the longer pick at the bottom of the curve? Something like that. Senior moment.

 

[Minz]

Axel Paulsen - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Axel Paulsen - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I knew who you were talking about.

 

[WednesdayMarch]

Yay, somebody else who remembers carrying two pairs of skates to the rink, one for freeskate and one for figures. What was it about figures blades that was different? They were missing the longer pick at the bottom of the curve? Something like that. Senior moment.

Pretty much. Higher, domed toe picks so that they didn't catch on the turns is what I remember. Well, that and the freezing cold temperature of my freeskating boots when they'd been sitting around in the rink for an hour or so while I traced my figures... The grind may have been different and the even the rocker but I don't remember. I just did what I was told!